Surface treatment

ABSTRACT

This invention describes a surface treatment composition, preferably for personal use, comprising at least one surfactant and at least two different organic acids and/or salts or organic acids, and wherein the total concentration of the organic acids and/or salts in the composition is at least 0.5% (w/v). The invention further extends to a method of treating a surface, preferably hair or skin, to remove dirt and to remove or inhibit microbial growth.

This invention relates to surface treatment compositions, and methods oftreating surfaces. The invention relates particularly, but notexclusively, to compositions for treatment of the skin or hair to effectcleaning, and to related methods. For the purpose of this specificationthe term “cleaning” denotes removal of dirt (including grease) and/orcombating of microorganisms.

Many compositions used for surface treatment include a surfactant orcombination of surfactants which help to release dirt and/ormicroorganisms from the hard surface. Such compositions may also containbiocidal agents. Such compositions must be formulated carefully. Forexample surfactants may denature biocidal agents. Many biocidal agentshave a detectable odour and the type and amount of a fragrance—typicallyan expensive ingredient—may need to be carefully selected. Foamingqualities are usually desired and these can be compromised by subtleaspects of the formulation selection. The viscosity of the compositionscan be hard to control. The desired viscosity may be reduced as afunction of time, temperature or pH. Optimal action of a biocidal agentin the composition may require a particular pH range, whereas adifferent pH range may be needed for optimal viscosity.

The nature and combination of surfactants chosen will also contributesignificantly to the physical properties of such a formulation.Consideration of the solubilisation of biocidal agents in such systemsis crucial, to obtain and maintain efficacy.

Frequently, a compromise is reached in known compositions in whicheither the viscosity or biocidal efficacy of the composition, or both,is sacrificed in part, in order to provide a composition which providesat least reasonable viscosity and biocidal activity. In many knowncompositions, the pH of the composition is raised or lowered in order tooptimise the viscosity, or a combination of surfactants is utilised topromote thermodynamic instability, in order to increase efficacy. Insome compositions where viscosity is not compromised, biocidal activityis less than optimal.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a surface treatmentcomposition which provides a surfactant and biocidal action at optimalviscosity for good handling and high surfactant efficacy, but withoutreducing the efficacy of any biocidal agent(s) in the composition. Itwould also be advantageous to provide a composition which can be storedfor relatively long periods of time without significant detrimentalalteration of viscosity of the composition, or significant reduction ineither surfactant effect or biocidal activity. Furthermore, it would bedesirable to provide a surface treatment composition which includes asurfactant, the composition being at the optimum pH for good viscosityand viscosity maintenance, and good surfactant and biocidal action.

It is therefore an aim of preferred embodiments of the invention toovercome the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda surface treatment composition comprising at least one surfactant andat least two compounds selected from organic acids and salts of organicacids, and wherein the total concentration of the organic acids andsalts of organic acids in the composition is at least 0.5% (w/v).

Preferred acids for use in the present invention are carboxylic acids.Preferred salts of organic acids for use with the present invention arecarboxylates, preferably alkali metal carboxylates, more preferablypotassium or, especially, sodium salts.

Preferred carboxylic acids/carboxylates are aliphatic; especiallysaturated aliphatic.

Other suitable organic acids and salts thereof may include benzenesulphonic acid and other aromatic sulphonic acids, uric acid and otherpurine-containing acids and ascorbic acid and other sugar-derived acids.

Suitably one of the organic acids or salt of an organic acid has two ormore carboxylic acid or carboxylate groups.

In a preferred embodiment, one of said compounds is an organic acid or asalt of an organic acid, having two or more carboxylic acid orcarboxylate groups, and another of said compounds is an organic acid ora salt of an organic acid, having one carboxylic acid or carboxylategroup.

In another preferred embodiment, one of said compounds is an organicacid or a salt of an organic acid, having three carboxylic acid orcarboxylate groups, and another of said compounds is an organic acid ora salt of an organic acid, having one or two carboxylic acid orcarboxylate groups.

Suitable organic acids/salts with one carboxylic acid or carboxylategroup include linear or branched optionally substituted hydroxyalkylcarboxylic acids/salts or alkylmonocarboxylic acids/salts, of 1 to 8chain carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 chain carbon atoms.

A suitable monocarboxylic acid/salt is formic, acetic, chloroacetic,dichloroacetic, benzoic, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic, 2-aminobenzoic,pyruvic, quinolinic, 2-chlorobenzoic, glyoxylic, thioacetic, glyceric,acetoacetic, hippuric, glycolic acid, and especially, lactic acid; orsalts thereof.

Suitable organic acids/salts with two carboxylic acids or carboxylategroups include linear or branched optionally substitutedhydroxyalkyldicarboxylic acids/salts or alkyldicarboxylic acids/salts,of 2 to 10 chain carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 8 chain carbon atoms.Preferred organic dicarboxylic acids/salts include tartaric, oxalic,maleic, aspartic, L-glutamic, oxaloacetic, 2-oxogluteric, malonic,phthalic, methylmalonic, mesaconic, methylsuccinic, glutaric, malic andadipic acids or salts thereof.

Suitable organic acids/salts with three carboxylic acids or carboxylategroups include linear or branched optionally substitutedhydroxyalkyltricarboxylic acids/salts, alkyltricarboxylic acids/salts,of 3 to 10 chain carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 8 chain carbon atoms.Preferred organic tricarboxylic acids/salts include L-argininosuccinic,isocitric and, especially, citric acid or salts thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the compositioncomprises two organic acids and/or salts of organic acids; preferablycarboxylic acids/salts. Preferably one of the organic acids/saltscomprises lactic acid and/or lactate and another of the organicacids/salts comprises citric acid and/or citrate.

Preferably the composition comprises both a first organic acid and asalt of that organic acid.

Preferably the composition comprises both a second organic acid and asalt of that organic acid.

Suitably the total concentration of all of the organic acids and/orsalts thereof in the composition is at least 1% (w/v), preferably atleast 2% (w/v).

Suitably the total concentration of both organic acids and/or saltsthereof in the composition is no more than 10% (w/v), preferably no morethan 7.5% (w/v).

Suitably the pH of the composition is no more than 6, preferably no morethan 5.5, more preferably no more than 5 and most preferably no morethan 4.8.

Suitably the pH of the composition is at least 2, preferably at least 3and more preferably at least 4.

One or, preferably, all of the organic acids and/or salts preferably actto buffer the composition to a desired pH.

The surfactant may be anionic, cationic, non-ionic, zwitterionic oramphoteric.

There may be more than one surfactant, preferably being independentlyselected from an anionic, cationic, non-ionic, zwitterionic oramphoteric surfactant.

Suitable non-ionic surfactants include alkoxylated alcohols,particularly alkoxylated fatty alcohols. These include ethoxylated andpropoxylated fatty alcohols, as well as ethoxylated and propoxylatedalkyl phenols, both having alkyl groups of from 7 to 16, more preferably8 to 13 carbon chains in length.

Examples of alkoxylated alcohols include certain ethoxylated alcoholcompositions presently commercially available from the Shell Oil Company(Houston, Tex.) under the general trade name NEODOL (trade mark), whichare described as linear alcohol ethoxylates, certain compositionspresently commercially available from the Union Carbide Company,(Danbury, Conn.) under the general trade name TERGITOL (trade mark)which are described as secondary alcohol ethoxylates, and containcompositions present commercially available from Clariant (UK) under thegeneral trade name GENAPOL (trade mark) and which are described to belinear and branched alcohol ethoxylates.

Examples of alkoxylated alkyl phenols include certain compositionspresently commercially available from the Rhône-Poulenc Company(Cranbury, N.J.) under the general trade name IGEPAL (trade mark), whichare described as octyl and nonyl phenols.

Suitable anionic surfactants include linear C₈ to C₁₆ alkyl sulphates,C₈ to C₁₆ alkylsulphonates, C₈ to C₁₆ alkylbenzenesulphonates, C₈ to C₁₆alkyldiphenyloxide disulphonates and C4 to C₁₋₆ alkylated naphthalenesulphonates. Suitable examples of anionic surfactants are sodium laurylsulphonate and sodium dodecyl benezene sulphonate, or mixtures thereof.Preferably the anionic surfactant is selected from those comprising analkali metal or ammonium cation.

A preferred composition of the present invention includes an anionicsurfactant.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants include betaines.

A preferred composition of the present invention includes an amphotericsurfactant.

An especially preferred composition of the present invention includes ananionic surfactant in combination with an amphoteric surfactant.Preferably the ratio of the weight of the anionic surfactant to theweight of the amphoteric surfactant exceeds 1:1, and more preferablyexceeds 2:1. Most preferably it exceeds 4:1. In highly preferredembodiments it exceeds 6:1.

Suitably the total concentration of the surfactant(s) in the compositionis at least 2% (w/v), preferably at least 5% (w/v) and more preferablyat least 8% (w/v).

Suitably the total concentration of the surfactant(s) in the compositionis no more than 25% (w/v), preferably no more than 20% (w/v).

Suitably the composition is an aqueous composition. Preferably thecomposition comprises at least 50% (w/v) water, more preferably at least60% (w/v), most preferably at least 70% (w/v).

The composition may comprise one or more further ingredients such aspreservatives, thickeners, fragrance, chelating agents, and sodiumchloride, for example.

The composition may contain a biocidal agent. The biocidal agent may bea bactericide, a viricide, a fungicide, a parasiticide, herbicide,algicide or any mixture of a combination thereof. Preferably it is abactericide.

Suitably biocidal agents include phenolic compounds, such as PCMX.

There may be more than one biocidal agent present in the composition.

When a biocidal agent is present it may suitably be at a totalconcentration in the composition of at least 0.1% (w/v), preferably atleast 0.2% (w/v) and more preferably at least 0.4% (w/v). Preferably itis present in an amount of up to 2% (w/v), more preferably up to 1%(w/v), most preferably up to 0.6% (w/v).

However it is believed that in preferred embodiments the acids and/orsalts used in the invention may provide biocidal action, and it ispossible that a traditional biocidal agent, such as an aromatic orheteroaromatic compound, notably a phenolic compound (for example PCMX),may not be needed in some embodiments. Accordingly compositions notcontaining such a biocidal agent are within the scope of the presentinvention.

Preferred compositions of the present invention have a foaming actionwith water on the surface to be treated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda surface treatment composition comprising at least one surfactant andat least two different organic buffers.

Suitably the organic buffers comprise organic acids and salts thereof,as described above. Of course the buffers are selected to be compatiblewith each other in the composition, and compatible with other componentsof the composition.

Suitably the or each surfactant is as described for the first aspect ofthe invention.

Suitably the composition further comprises a biocidal agent as describedfor the first aspect of the invention.

Other definitions given above in relation the first aspect areapplicable to the second aspect.

The composition of the first or second aspect is preferably a liquidskin cleaner (for example a hand wash), a shower gel, or the like.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there isprovided a package containing a composition of the first or secondaspect, the package comprising a container for the composition and arestricted dispenser outlet therefrom under the control of a user. Therestricted dispenser outlet could be, for example, a spray nozzle of apressurised canister, or the outlet of a pump-action container, forexample a press-action “tap” or the spray nozzle of a trigger spraycontainer.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof treating a surface, the method comprising the step of contacting thesurface with the surface treatment composition of the first or secondaspects of the invention.

Suitably the surface is a surface of a person, in particular the skin orhair of a person.

The method may comprise coating the surface with the composition,directly from a container or via the agency of a separate part, forexample a sponge, cloth or the hand, or spraying the surface with thecomposition.

The method may comprise the final step of rinsing the surface with anaqueous media, suitably clean water.

EXAMPLE

The various aspects of the invention will now be described withreference to the following non-limiting examples in which the followingmaterials are used:

PCMX—parachloro meta-xylenol, supplied by Thomas Swan, Durham

EMPICOL ESB 70 (SLES)—sodium lauryl (C₁₂₋₁₆) ethoxy (2-3

EO)—sulphate surfactant, supplied by Huntsman

EMPIGEN BSFA—a betaine amphoteric surfactant, supplied by Huntsman

KATHON CG—a preservative; a mixture of thiazolinones, supplied by Rohn &Haas

JAGUAR EXCEL—a guar gum supplied by Rhodia

Pine fragrance

EMPICOL XPE/H—pearliser, supplied by Huntsman

EMPICOL, EMPIGEN, KATHON and JAGUAR EXCEL are trade marks.

A composition of the invention was made up according to Formulation Agiven in Table 1 below, in which lactic acid/sodium lactate and citricacid/sodium citrate were used as two different buffering agents. Asecond formulation, Formulation B was also prepared in which the citricacid/sodium citrate was omitted. A control formulation, Formulation Cwas prepared in which no such organic acid or salt was present. TABLE 1Concentration (% w/v) Ingredient Formulation A Formulation B FormulationC PCMX 0.5 0.5 0.5 EMPICOL ESB 70 9.0 9.0 9.0 EMPIGEN BSFA 1.5 1.5 1.5Lactic acid To pH 4.7 To pH 4.7 — Sodium lactate 1.0 1.0 — EMPICOL XPE/H1.5 1.5 1.5 Fragrance 0.2 0.2 0.2 KATHON CG 0.02 0.02 0.02 TetrasodiumEDTA 0.3 0.3 0.3 Sodium citrate 0.7 — — Citric acid To pH 4.7 — — JAGUAREXCEL 0.3 0.3 0.3 Sodium chloride — — Q.S Deionised water to 100% to100% to 100%

The anti-microbial efficacy of Formulation A, Formulation B andFormulation C against Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 10788) and Escherichiacoli (NCTC 10418), was tested by performing a Handwash EfficacySuspension Test.

The Handwash Efficacy Suspension Test is based on a standard test forthe assessment of the rapid germicidal activity for antibacterial liquidand bar soap products, test prEN12054—chemical disinfection andantiseptics—Products for hygienic and surgical handrub and handwash,bactericidal activity, test method and requirements (phase 2, step 1);British Standard Institute draft for public comment 95/561926 July 1995;but with use of a different E. coli strain).

The microbiocidal effect (ME) due to the action of the composition overthe test contact time at the temperature at which the test was performedis expressed by the formula:ME=Log N _(C)−Log N _(D)where:

N_(C)=Number of cfu/ml of the relevant control test (test mixturewithout composition).

N_(D)=Number of cfu/ml of the test mixture after the action of thecomposition.

Results are graded as follows: ME values obtained Activity >4.0Excellent 3.0-4.0 Good 1.5-3.0 Moderate 0.5-1.5 Poor <0.5 No activity

Formulations A, B and C were diluted in hard water to give a 50% v/vconcentration, and were tested against S. aureus by contactingFormulations A, B and C with S. aureus cultures for one minute.

The tests were repeated a further two times to give a total of threerepeats.

The results of the anti-microbial efficacy test against S. aureus areshown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Replicate ME Values Median ME Formulation Run1 Run 2 Run 3 Value A 2.68 2.48 3.08 2.68 B 0.95 0.78 2.23 0.95 C 1.381.25 1.61 1.38

The anti-microbial efficacy of Formulations A, B and C was testedagainst Escherichia coli, using the Handwash Efficacy Suspension Test asdetailed above. The results of the test against E. coli) is shown inTable 3 below. TABLE 3 Replicate ME Values Median ME Formulation Run 1Run 2 Run 3 Value A 4.68 4.95 4.57 4.68 B 2.24 2.60 2.60 2.60 C 0.240.09 0.17 0.17

The results of the test as shown in Tables 2 and 3 show that FormulationA exhibited moderate activity against S. aureus with a median ME valueof 2.68.

Formulation A also showed good activity against E. coli achieving amedian ME value of 4.68. Formulation B showed moderate activity againstE. coli compared to Formulation A, with median ME value of 2.6, whereasFormulation C without organic buffers showed no activity against thisorganism.

Viscosity stability issues were also studied. The polymeric thickenerCROTHIX was found to be unstable at the pH of Formulation B (pH 4.7).The pH of the formulation was increased to pH 5.2 to avoid viscositydegradation over time. The microbial efficacy of the product decreasedconsiderably as compared to Formulation B at pH 4.7. Also, after storageat 50° C. for two weeks, the pH 5.2 formulation exhibited significantviscosity degradation. It was noticed that pH decreased over this timeperiod. As such, an increase in buffering capacity of Formulation B wasinvestigated by increasing the amount of sodium lactate/lactic acidpairing, which resulted in excess of sodium ions, and as a result, theformulation was not capable of thickening.

Conversely, Formulation A, employing namely sodium citrate/citric acidand sodium lactate/lactic acid, counteracted the loss of thickeningcapacity at pH 5.2, such that Formulation A at pH 5.2 showedsignificantly decreased viscosity degradation over time, with nosignificant loss of biocidal effect, compared to Formulation B in whichthe pH was increased by 5.2 by addition of further sodium lactate/lacticacid.

The biocidal efficacy of Formulation A at pH 5.2 was much higher (5 logreductions v. S. aureus and E. coli) compared to Formulation B at pH5.2.

In further tests of a corresponding composition containing the citricand lactic buffer pairs bur not containing PCMX nor any other acceptedbiocidal agent, significant biocidal activity was still obtained.

1. A hard surface cleaning concentrate composition comprising: a) atleast one non-cationic antimicrobial agent; b) at least one solventselected from water soluble organic solvent, water insoluble organicsolvent, terpenes, essential oil, and mixtures thereof; c) an anionicsoap surfactant; d) at least one surfactant selected from nonionicsurfactant, anionic surfactant excluding the anionic soap of c), andmixtures thereof; e) optionally, one or more alkanolamines; f)optionally, one or more conventional constituents selected from dyes,colorants, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers/enhancers, lightstabilizers, viscosity modifying agents, pH adjusting agents and pHbuffers including organic and inorganic salts, optical brighteners,opacifying agents, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, enzymes,anti-spotting agents, anti-oxidants, preservatives, and anti-corrosionagents; and g) the balance, water characterized in that the concentratecompositions are mixed with water in dilution of 1 part concentratecomposition to 50-200 parts water at 20° C., the resultant mixtureexhibits a light transmittance loss of at least 30%.
 2. The cleaningconcentrate according to claim 1 wherein the a) non-cationicantimicrobial agent is selected from pyrithiones, dimethyldimethylolhydantoin, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone sodiumsulfite, sodium bisulfite, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea,benzyl alcohol, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, formal in(formaldehyde), iodopropenyl butylcarbamate, chloroacetamide,methanamine, methyldibromonitrile glutaronitrile, glutaraldehyde,5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, phenethyl alcohol, o-phenylphenol/sodiumo-phenylphenol, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, polymethoxy bicyclicoxazolidine, dimethoxane, thimersal dichlorobenzyl alcohol, captan,chlorphenenesin, dichlorophene, chlorbutanol, glyceryl laurate,halogenated diphenyl ethers, phenolic compounds, mono- and poly-alkyland aromatic halophenols, resorcinol and its derivatives, bisphenoliccompounds, benzoic esters (parabens), halogenated carbanilides,3-trifluoromethyl-4,4-dichlorocarbanilide, and3,3,4-trichlorocarbanilide.
 3. The cleaning concentrate according toclaim 1 wherein the a) non-cationic antimicrobial agent is a mono- andpoly-alkyl and aromatic halophenol selected from the groupp-chlorophenol, methyl p-chlorophenol, ethyl p-chlorophenol, n-propylp-chlorophenol, n-butyl p-chlorophenol, n-amyl p-chlorophenol, sec-amylp-chlorophenol, n-hexyl p-chlorophenol, cyclohexyl p-chlorophenol,n-heptyl p-chlorophenol, n-octyl p-chlorophenol, o-chlorophenol, methylo-chlorophenol, ethyl o-chlorophenol, n-propyl o-chlorophenol, n-butylo-chlorophenol, n-amyl o-chlorophenol, tert-amyl o-chlorophenol, n-hexylo-chlorophenol, n-heptyl o-chlorophenol, o-benzyl p-chlorophenol,o-benzyl-m-methyl p-chlorophenol, o-benzyl-m, m-dimethyl p-chlorophenol,o-phenylethyl p-chlorophenol, o-phenylethyl-m-methyl p-chlorophenol,3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-ethyl-3-methylp-chlorophenol, 6-n-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol,6-iso-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylp-chlorophenol, 6-sec-butyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol,2-iso-propyl-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-diethylmethyl-3-methylp-chlorophenol, 6-iso-propyl-2-ethyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol,2-sec-amyl-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol 2-diethylmethyl-3,5-dimethylp-chlorophenol, 6-sec-octyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, p-chloro-m-cresol,p-bromophenol, methyl p-bromophenol, ethyl p-bromophenol, n-propylp-bromophenol, n-butyl p-bromophenol, n-amyl p-bromophenol, sec-amylp-bromophenol, n-hexyl p-bromophenol, cyclohexyl p-bromophenol,o-bromophenol, tert-amyl o-bromophenol, n-hexyl o-bromophenol,n-propyl-m,m-dimethyl o-bromophenol, 2-phenyl phenol, 4-chloro-2-methylphenol, 4-chloro-3-methyl phenol, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol,2,4-dichloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, 3,4,5,6-terabromo-2-methylphenol,5-methyl-2-pentylphenol, 4-isopropyl-methylphenol,para-chloro-meta-xylenol, dichloro meta xylenol, chlorothymol, and5-chloro-2-hydroxydiphenylmethane.
 4. The composition according to claim1 wherein the b) solvent is selected from C₁₋₄ alcohols, terpenes,essential oil, and mixtures thereof.
 5. The composition according toclaim 4 wherein the b) solvent is a mixture of essential oil and C₁₋₄alcohol.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. Thecomposition according to claim 5 wherein the b) solvent is a mixture ofessential oil and ethanol.
 11. The composition according to claim 10wherein the essential oil is a mixture of pine oil and d-limonene. 12.(canceled)
 13. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the anionicsoap surfactant is selected from alkali metal soap fatty acids.
 14. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein the non-cationic antimicrobialagent is present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 15 wt %. 15.The composition according to claim 1 wherein the anionic soap surfactantis present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 20 wt %.
 16. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein the d) surfactant is a mixtureof nonionic surfactant and anionic surfactant excluding the anionic soapof c).
 17. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the d)surfactant is nonionic surfactant.
 18. The composition according toclaim 1 wherein the d) surfactant is an anionic surfactant excluding theanionic soap of c).
 19. The composition according to claims 16 and 17wherein the nonionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate or analkylphenol ethoxylate.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The composition according toclaim 16 wherein the anionic surfactant excluding the anionic soap of c)is a sulfate or sulfonate.
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein the d) surfactant is present inan amount of from about 0.01 to about 10 wt %.
 25. The compositionaccording to claim 1 which contains e) at least one alkanolamine. 26.The composition according to claim 25 wherein the alkanolamine ismonoethanolamine.
 27. A hard surface cleaning concentrate compositioncomprising: a) from about 0.05 to about 15 wt %, of at leastnon-cationic antimicrobial agent; b) from about 0.1 to about 20 wt %, ofat least one solvent selected from water soluble organic solvent, waterinsoluble organic solvent, terpene, essential oil, and mixtures thereof;c) from about 0.1 to about 20 wt %, of an anionic soap surfactant; d)from about 0.01 to about 10 wt %, of at least one surfactant selectedfrom nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant excluding the anionic soapof c), and mixtures thereof; e) from about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of oneor more alkanolamines; f) from about 0 to about 10 wt % of one or moreconventional constituents selected from dyes, colorants, fragrances andfragrance solubilizers/enhancers, light stabilizers, viscosity modifyingagents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic andinorganic salts, optical brighteners, opacifying agents, hydrotropes,antifoaming agents, enzymes, anti-spotting agents, anti-oxidants,preservatives, and anti-corrosion agents; and g) the balance, watercharacterized in that the concentrate compositions are mixed with waterin dilution of 1 part concentrate composition to 50-200 parts water at20° C., the resultant mixture exhibits a light transmittance loss of atleast 30%.
 28. The composition according to claim 27 which contains e)one or more alkanolamines.
 29. (canceled)
 30. A process for cleaningand/or disinfecting a hard surface requiring such treatment whichprocess includes the steps of: dispersing in water in a weight ratio ofconcentrate composition:water of from 1:0.1 to 1:1000 a compositionaccording to claim 1; and applying the dispersed concentrate to the hardsurface in an amount effective for providing cleaning and/ordisinfecting treatment of the hard surface.